Rare Q66 M35 black (!) SS-VT / Waffen-SS helmet found in Troissereux

Rare Q66 M35 black (!) SS-VT / Waffen-SS helmet found in Troissereux. This helmet is a stunning, combat worn example of a SS-VT helmet which started its life as a green double decal SS helmet. It was then repainted in black with a additional set of decals for parade use. The helmet was then subsequently repainted in a light grey finish around both decals. This is the rare but typical helmet for the SS-VT and LSSAH during the Dutch and French campaign. The last repaint in light grey is well known to have a very bad adhesion to the black paint underneath and are nearly always completely worn down to the black paint. The swastika decal has been neatly period removed as per regulations in 1940. The helmet is marked Q66 indicating production by Quist with the lot number 1142 which is typical for these early SS helmets. The helmet retains its factory installed liner.

This helmet was one of the first SS helmets issued to the SS-Verfügungstruppen and stayed in service until 1944 when this helmet was picked up by a boy in the town of Troissereux which is north of the town of Beauvais. On 16 and 18 august 1944 21 civilians were shot by the Germans in this town. There are a number of photographs of the 1./s.SS.PzAbt. 101 of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler moving trough the area on 24 august 1944. The helmet was picked up by a collector in Beauvais and has been in a collection for a very long time. If you are after that Waffen-SS or SS-VT helmet that has seen the whole war, or you need a helmet for a 1940 campaign display; this is it!